# US 10,117,446 B2 · Hairball control through dietary mineral limitation

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- Number: US 10,117,446 B2
- Document ID: US10117446B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/441,518
- Filed: 2012-11-15
- Published: 2015-10-22
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-15
- Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Applicants: Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.
- Inventors: Dennis Jewell; Luis J. Montelongo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117446B2

## CPC

- A23K 20/22: Compounds of alkali metals
- A23K 20/24: Compounds of alkaline earth metals, e.g. magnesium
- A23K 20/26: Compounds containing phosphorus
- A23K 50/40: for carnivorous animals, e.g. cats or dogs
- A23K 20/147: Polymeric derivatives, e.g. peptides or proteins
- A23K 20/158: Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
- A23K 20/163: Sugars; Polysaccharides
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- A23V 2250/1578: Calcium
- A23V 2250/1614: Sodium
- A23V 2250/1618: Phosphorus
- A23K: FODDER
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for controlling hairball formation in animals, particularly for treating and/or preventing hairball formation, elimination, and/or discharge by companion animals, including cats and dogs, by limitation of dietary minerals. The methods comprise feeding the animals in need of such treatment compositions comprising from 0.60% to 0.74% calcium by dry weight of the composition; from 0.50% to 0.69% phosphorous by dry weight of the composition; and from 0.06% to 0.28% sodium by dry weight of the composition, in an amount and for a time sufficient for treatment and/or prevention of hairball formation in the animal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for reducing hairball formation in an animal in need thereof, the method comprising feeding the animal in need thereof a composition comprising:
less than or equal to 0.74% calcium by dry weight of the composition;
less than or equal to 0.69% phosphorous by dry weight of the composition; and
less than or equal to 0.28% sodium by dry weight of the composition;
wherein the composition is a nutritionally complete diet,
wherein the composition is administered in an amount and for a time sufficient for reducing the frequency of hairball discharge by the animal, and
wherein the animal in need thereof is fed a previous diet comprising 0.95% calcium by dry weight of the previous diet, 0.86% phosphorus by dry weight of the previous diet, and 0.54% sodium by dry weight of the previous diet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the animal in need thereof is fed the previous diet for eight weeks, and wherein the animal in need thereof is fed the composition for eight weeks.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the composition comprises:
0.74% calcium by dry weight of the composition;
0.69% phosphorus by dry weight of the composition; and
0.28% sodium by dry weight of the composition.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is a feline.

### Claim 5

A method for reducing hairball formation in an animal in need thereof, the method comprising feeding the animal in need thereof a composition comprising:
less than or equal to 0.74% calcium by dry weight of the composition;
less than or equal to 0.69% phosphorous by dry weight of the composition; and
less than or equal to 0.28% sodium by dry weight of the composition;
wherein the composition is administered in an amount and for a time sufficient for reducing the frequency of hairball discharge by the animal,
wherein the animal is a feline,
wherein the animal in need thereof is fed a previous diet comprising 0.95% calcium by dry weight of the previous diet, 0.86% phosphorus by dry weight of the previous diet, and 0.54% sodium by dry weight of the previous diet, and
wherein the composition is a nutritionally complete diet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises:
0.74% calcium by dry weight of the composition;
0.69% phosphorus by dry weight of the composition; and
0.28% sodium by dry weight of the composition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the animal in need thereof is fed the composition for eight weeks.